Rambling promotes love for cultural heritage among primary schoolchildren

Going on a school trip is perhaps one of the most exciting activities children look forward to. Not only do they have fun, but they learn too, especially if the trip is educational.

For the past few months, children attending 13 primary schools across Malta and Gozo designed and planned what they considered to be the two most interesting walks in and around their town or village. They were accompanied by teachers from the respective schools who coordinated the events, and also by parents. The aim was to make the children aware of the environment and Malta's rich natural and cultural heritage.

The children took photographs and videos, prepared paintings, models, power point presentations, and consulted newspapers and books to set up exhibitions at these schools.

RAM secretary Alex Vella said that the main aim was to instil in children an awareness and appreciation of our natural and cultural heritage at a very early age. "Today's environment has changed, and unfortunately, more areas are either being taken up by squatters, or are being used for dumping waste. In the last 50 years the characteristics of our villages and the countryside around them have changed considerably, sometimes beyond recognition. It has become more important for children to realise this, and to learn how to preserve and take care of the environment."

The successful project was the initiative of the Ramblers Association of Malta, in coordination with the Directorate for the Curriculum and eLearning within the Education Ministry, who judged the exhibitions and awarded prizes to the best-placed schools.

Through the walks, children also got to know more about their town or village. In fact one of the organisers remarked: "During our visits to the exhibitions, some children commented that the walks made them realise how little they knew before about their own village".

"The only downside was that they did not have the opportunity to meet their peers through a collective exhibition, a feature which we will hopefully encourage in next year's edition."

"With today's pressures on the academic side of school life, children have little time to experience outdoor activities. The consequence of a sedentary lifestyle, even from an early age, is obesity. Thus, the project helped to get children out of their classrooms, primarily to raise awareness about the environment, but also to foster a healthy lifestyle of physical activity."

Mr Vella said that the project required a lot of energy, especially by the heads of schools and teachers coordinating the project.

"The children benefited a lot from their teachers' support, and in fact, in some instances, the children's enthusiasm was a reflection of how much their teachers encouraged them. The children also polished their ICT skills and learnt how to make digital presentations."

The exhibitions were judged by a representative from the directorate and three members of the association, including president Lino Bugeja. The winning schools were Anton Cassar Primary School of Għajnsielem, and San Anton School, Imselliet, who both placed first. They were followed by Francis Ebejer School of Żurrieq and Rosa Magro Primary C of Xewkija, who both placed third.

The winners received prizes amounting to €1400 in book vouchers, while every school was presented with a certificate of participation. The prizes were raised from activities organised by RAM, and partly sponsored by Agenda Bookshop and Lombard Bank.

RAM president Lino Bugeja, who visited the exhibitions, said he was impressed with the outstanding displays, which were proof of the knowledge the children had gained. "Four children from each school guided the judging panel through the exhibitions and explained in detail the features they encountered throughout the walks. It was evident that the children had researched the flora and fauna, wayside chapels, milestones and other features which they encountered along their paths. For example, the students from San Anton School uncovered a commemorative plaque which had been buried for 30 years. The children also pointed out environmental eyesores, and suggested improvements that could be carried out along these two routes.

"It was also evident that the children became aware of features which they had previously taken for granted and never quite appreciated. The interest and participation of children, aided by their teachers and parents who further sparked the children's enthusiasm, was impressive.

RAM hopes to run the project again next year among Form 1 students.